Philippines waiting for Taiwan anger to cool

Local residents in the central city of Taichung chant slogans to demand an apology from the Philippine government for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman killed by the Philippines Coast Guard, on May 18, 2013. The Philippines is waiting for tempers in Taiwan to cool before settling the dispute over the shot Taiwanese fisherman, the head of an office in charge of relations said on Sunday, May 19, 2013. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP/THE OFFICE OF LAWMAKER LU SHOU-YEN

MANILA (AFP) - The Philippines is waiting for tempers in Taiwan to cool before settling the dispute over a shot Taiwanese fisherman, the head of an office in charge of relations said on Sunday.

Issues like Manila's "one-China" policy and comments by Taiwanese investigators branding the incident as murder have complicated the situation, said Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

"We are waiting for the right time because I was told by the secretary-general for Asian affairs, we should wait for the temperature in Taiwan to cool," Mr Perez said in an interview with DZMM radio.

"The Taiwanese are highly emotional and... the media in Taiwan is heating things up so tempers are running high."